Two-piece wick structure for spinning and twisting rings



Oct. 22, 1963 v A. J. wAYsON 3,107,430'

TIO-PECE IICK STRUCTURE FOR SPINNING AND TIISTIHG RINGS Filed latch 22.' 1961 I 39 j 36 g @2W/C( dorlazegs 'i tages.

United States Patent Citiee 3,107,480 Patented Get. 22, 19:63

3,167,486 TWG-PKECE WICK STRUCTURE FR SPNNNG AND TWISTIN@ RlNGS Andrew J. Wayson, Needham, Mass., assigner to Merriman Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,541 Claims. (Cl. 57-120) This invention relates to spinning and twisting ring assemblies as employed in the textile industry, and more particularly to ring assemblies of the continuously lubricated type. When reference hereinafter is made to spinning rings, it will be understood to include twisting rings.

Self-lubricating spinning ring assemblies are well known in the spinning art and generally comprise a powdered metal ring of porous construction on which a traveler is mounted. The ring itself is removably positioned in a circular holder y(preferably of the split type) which is attached to the spinning frame. In order to provide lubrication on the surface of the ring over which the traveler moves, it is usual to prov-ide an oil reservoir and oil metering means integrally connected to the holder. The ring is held in the holder by positioning an interior vertical circumferential flange on the holder in an exterior circumferential channel lformed iin the ring. According to present practice, a Iwick is placed in a secondary circumferential channel formed in the ring and the ends of the wick are passed laterally through a small opening through the holder to engage the oil metering Ifelts associated with the oil reservoir for controlling the oil flow. This structure provides proper lubrication of the ring but has, in some situations, certain disadvan- The principal disadvantage is encountered in changing or replacing rings. Replacement is necessary from time to time as the rings :become worn by the traveler. When the wick is one-piece, as above described, it is necessary to remove the whole wick when it is desired to replace the ring. This is because the wick is wrapped around the ring and in removing the ring the ends of the wick are necessarily drawn out of the holder and reservoir. When the new ring is installed, the reservoir cover must be removed so that the wick ends can be threaded through the passage into the holder by means of a suitable tool and then properly located with respect to the metering felts. This process is diflicult, time consuming and, therefore, expensive.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention t-o provide a wick structure for a spinning ring assembly wherein removal of the ring lfrom the holder will not necessitate removal of the wick from its normal position against the tfelts in the holder.

It is another object of my invention to provide a spinning ring assembly which utilizes a two-part wick, one part in position on the ring and the other part in permanent position in the holder and oil reservoir. The construction greatly simplifies the installation of a new ring.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cut-away view off a spinning ring assembly showing wick structure according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a spinning ring shown in FIG. 4 on the line 3-3 thereof, shown 'in a holder as in FIG. 2; and

FiG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a spinning ring showing a wick in place on the ring.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description of my invention in a preferred embodiment,

I provide a spinning ring assembly of usual construction having a porous ring 10 ordinarily of powdered metal mounted in a holder 12. The holder Iis provided with a reservoir chamber 14 for holding a supply yof oil or other suitable lubricant and a chamber 16 for containing a pair of superimposed felts 18 and 19 which act as means for metering the flow of oil from the reservoir 14 to the ring 10. A Iwick 21 running from reservoir 14 over a wall 23 carries the oil by capillary action to felts 18 and 19. A cover 211 is provided which lits over the chambers 14 and 16. The cover 20 has a conventional spring closed valve member 22 whereby upon depressing member 22 oil may be introduced into reservoir 14. As is customary, the holder 12 of the split type is provided with a Vertical circumferential interior lian-ge 24 which engages an exterior annular shallow channel 26 in the ring 1d (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

My invention consists in the holder structure and wick arrangement whereby oil is conveyed from the reservoir 14 to the vring 10i. In detail, l position a first wick 2S, hereinafter referred to as the holder wick 28, in the holder 12. This *is accomplished by drilling two passages 30 and 32 from the interior face of the holder 12 through the connecting body 33 into the chamber 16. The passages 30 and 32I are spaced somewhat from each other, Kbeing separated lby la small segment 34 of the body 33. The holder wick 28 runs from chamber 16 through passage 3@ along the face of iiange 24 .for a limited extent as at 29 and then back to chamber 16 through passage 32. The two ends of wick 28 are sandwiched between the felts 18 as at 29 and 31 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

A second wick 36, hereinafter referred to as the ring wick, is positioned in a smaller annular circumferential groove 37 Iformed in the ring 10 and the bottom of channel 26. Groove 37 may Ibe of varying dimensions according to the number of turns of the wick that are to be placed around the ring. The ring wick 36 may be positioned in any of various configurations within the groove 37. FIG. 2 shows a ring wick 36 which is wrapped around the ring twice, thereby having the sectional configuration of two strands disposed one above the other. To hold the wick 36 in` place on the ring prior to insertion in the holder, the wick ends may be twisted around and tucked under the adjacent portion.

An alternative manner of positioning the ring wick 36 is suggested in FIG. 4, where the ring 1() is provided with two annular vertically spaced `grooves 38 and 40. The ring wick 36 resides in both grooves, crossing from one to the other at the area 42 where the intermediate wall 44 is cut away. The ends 46 and 48 are secured bytucking them under adjacent portions of the ring wick 36 in one of the grooves.

It is to be noted that there are other coniguriations which the ring wick 36 may take -in the ring 10. It is not my intention to limit my invention to the two configurations described herein. Also, the felts 18 and 19 may be omitted so that the wick 218 runs directly from the oil reservoir to the interior tace of flange 2-4, as the invention is in the two-part 'wick rather than in the source of the oil supply.

The operation of my improved spinning ring assembly is as follows:

The holder wick 28 is positioned in the holder 12 with its ends extending into rthe chamber -16 and suitably 1ocated between metering felts :18 and 19. Wick 21 carries oil from reservoir 14 to felts 18- and 19 at a rate depending upon Ithe rate of oil withdrawn from the felts. The transparent cover 20 may then be placed over the reservoir chamber 14 and the felt chamber 16 and secured by pins 50. The ring wick 36 lis placed in groove 37 around the ring 1li with its ends properly secured in a manner not to interfere with insertion of the ring. The ring may then be inserted in the holder 12 without the necessity of threading the wick ends into the holder as is necessary according to the prior pr-actice. It is, of course, essential that the portion 29 of the holder wick Z8 which abutsl the ring wick 35 over a limited area make a firm engagement therewith to provide proper transfer of the oil from the holder wick 28 to the ring wick 36. When using the construction of FIG. 4, the crossing portions of the wick will be placed against portion 29 of the holder wick.

When it is desired to change the ring 10, it is only necessary to open the holder 12 (spreading it `at the split in conventional manner) and remove the old ring 10i. The old `ring wick 36 wrapped around ring 10 will, of course, come out with the ring, but the holder wick v28 will not be disturbed. 'Ihe new ring 10 and its new ring wick 36 securely residing in ygroove 37 may then be inserted in the holder -12 in the usual manner. By eliminating the necessity of having to remove cover 20 from the holder reservoir and of having -to thread the ends of the new wick through the holder passages `and then positioning them between the felts `18 and 19, the time and work involved in changing rings is greatly reduced.

It should also be noted that the ring 10 and ring wick 36 may be sold to lthe user as an assembled unit with the wick in correct position. This eliminates the need for a skilled mechanic when ring replacement is necessary.

It is my intention to claim all changes and modifications of lthe example of my invention herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A spinning ring assembly comprising a holder having an oil reservoir formed as a part thereof, a spinning ring carried by said holder, a first wick in and carried solely by said holder for conveying oil 4from said reservoir to -a localized area of said holder abutting said ring, a second wick around said ring abutting said first wick at said area for receiving oil from said first wick and conveying said oil to said ring.

2. A spinning ring lassembly comprising a holder having a reservoir for receiving a supply of oil, a spinning ring carried by said holder, walls in said holder defining at least one passage between said reservoir and a portion of said holder abutting said ring, a first wick carried solely by said holder and having a part thereof in said passage `for conveying a supply of oil from said reservoir to a position at said portion of said holder abutting said ring, a second wick around said ring and engaging said first wick for receiving oil from said first Wick and for conveying said oil to said ring.

3. A spinning ring holder comprising a base, a wall on said base defining a circumferential flange for engaging a spinning ring, an interior face on said circumferential flange, an oil reservoir positioned on said base, a passage running between said reservoir and said interior face of said circumferential ange, `and a wick positioned in said passage and supported solely by said holder to convey oil from said reservoir to a limited area of said interior face.

4. A spinning ring holder comprising a base, walls on said base defining ran interior circumferential ange for engaging a spinning ring, an interior face on said circumferential flange for abutting said spinning ring, an oil reservoir positioned on said base, walls on said base defining first and second passages between said oil reservoir and said interior face, said second passage being in spaced relationship with said first passage, a continuous wick member supported solely by said holder and positioned in said first and said second passages and having its ends disposed in said oil reservoir with the intermediate portion of said wick located on said interior face between said passages.

5 A spinning ring comprising a cylindrical ring member having rounded edges and being constructed of a rigid hard porous material, at least one exteriorly disposed circumferential groove in said ring member extending completely around said member, a wick extending around said member and completely confined and secured in said groove, and two cylindrical surfaces on the outer circumference of said ring above and below said groove for engaging a spinning ring holder, said ring and secured wick adapted to be inserted in said holder as a unit, said wick acting to transmit oil about said ring 4from a cooperating wick in said holder.

6. A spinning ring assembly comprising a spinning ring with a circumferential groove therein, a first wick having no loose ends disposed around said spinning ring in said groove, a spinning ring holder, an oil reservoir in said holder, a second wick disposed in and supported solely by said holder and having at least one end disposed in said reservoir and having a segment outside of said reservoir positioned to firmly engage said first wick in the groove of said spinning `ring when said spinning ring is positioned in said holder.

7. A spinning ring assembly comprising a holder having an oil reservoir therein and a circumferential flange adapted to receive and support a spinning ring, a reservoir Wick extending from said reservoir to a limited area of the interior surface of said flange, a spinning ring having a circumferential groove therein, a wick positioned in said groove and extending completely around said ring, said spinning ring wick arranged to make contact with said reservoir wick at said limited area when said ring is in position in said holder, whereby oil may be conveyed from said reservoir to said wick in the groove of said spinning ring.

8. A spinning ring assembly comprising a holder and a spinning ring, an oil reservoir in said holder, means for conveying oil from said reservoir to said spinning ring, said means comprising a first wick supported solely by and permanently positioned in said holder and running from said reservoir to a limited tarea on the interior periphery of said holder, a second wick extending circumferentially about said ring in said circumferential groove, said holder Wick and said spinning ring wick being in tight engagement at said limited area when said ring is in position in said holder, whereby oil may pass from said reservoir through said holder wick to said yspinning ring wick and thence about said spinning ring.

9. A spinning ring -assembly comprising 1a holder having a circumferential interior wall, a vertical type spinning ring having means about its periphery adapted to Imake engagement with the said wall of said holder, a circumferential groove in said spinning ring, a wick secured in said groove, .said holder having an oil supply compartment therein, a wick running from said compartment through the body of said holder to a limited area of the interior face of said circumferential wall, whereby oil may be conveyed `from said compartment to said limited y area at the interior face of said circumferential wall, the

wick in said holder extending inwardly from said wall a sufiicient distance so as to make firm contact with the wick in said groove of said ring when the ring is in position in said holder and whereby oil may be conveyed from said compartment -to the wick of said ring.

10. A spinning ring assembly comprising a holder and a vertical type spinning ring, said spinning ring having a shallow channel about its periphery and a groove narrower than said channel positioned between the top and bottom of said channel, a wick in said groove, said holder having a circular flange adapted to be positioned in the channel of said ring, whereby said ring may be properly supported for operation, an oil reservoir in said holder, a metering felt compartment adjacent said reservoir, a wall separating said reservoir from said metering felt compartment, a metering felt in said metering felt compartment, a wick running from said reservoir over said wall to -a position against said metering felt, a second wick having an end positioned iagainst said metering felt and running laterally through la passage in said holder -to the interior wall 0f said 'ange and directly into rm engage- 5 ment over a limited area with the wick extending about said spinning ring, whereby oil in said reservoir may pass to said metering felt, thence through said metering felt to said second `wick 'and by means of said second wick to the Wick extending about said spinning ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

10. A SPINNING RING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOLDER AND A VERTICAL TYPE SPINNING RING, SAID SPINNING RING HAVING A SHALLOW CHANNEL ABOUT ITS PERIPHERY AND A GROOVE NARROWER THAN SAID CHANNEL POSITIONED BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF SAID CHANNEL, A WICK IN SAID GROOVE, SAID HOLDER HAVING A CIRCULAR FLANGE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN THE CHANNEL OF SAID RING, WHEREBY SAID RING MAY BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED FOR OPERATION, AN OIL RESERVOIR IN SAID HOLDER, A METERING FELT COMPARTMENT ADJACENT SAID RESERVOIR, A WALL SEPARATING SAID RESERVOIR FROM SAID METERING FELT COMPARTMENT, A METERING FELT IN SAID METERING FELT COMPARTMENT, A WICK RUNNING FROM SAID RESERVOIR OVER SAID WALL TO A POSITION AGAINST SAID METERING FELT, A SECOND WICK HAVING AN END POSITIONED AGAINST SAID METERING FELT AND RUNNING LATERALLY THROUGH A PASSAGE IN SAID HOLDER TO THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID FLANGE AND DIRECTLY INTO FIRM ENGAGEMENT OVER A LIMITED AREA WITH THE WICK EXTENDING ABOUT SAID SPINNING RING, WHEREBY OIL IN SAID RESERVOIR MAY PASS TO SAID METERING FELT, THENCE THROUGH SAID METERING FELT TO SAID SECOND WICK AND BY MEANS OF SAID SECOND WICK TO THE WICK EXTENDING ABOUT SAID SPINNING RING. 